Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has said his biggest career regret was declining an offer to become Ozzy Osbourne’s lead guitarist in 1995. Reflecting on the first anniversary of Osbourne’s death, he said he has continued to imagine the music they might have made together, despite understanding that he chose to remain committed to Extreme at the time.

Bettencourt described the offer as a childhood dream and a major honour, noting he would have followed Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde in Osbourne’s band. His Extreme bandmate Gary Cherone later joined Van Halen as lead singer in 1996; Extreme are currently touring with Mötley Crüe and Tesla through late September in support of their 2023 album, Six.